Boulder County Issuing Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

A Boulder County clerk began issuing same-sex marriage licenses after a federal appeals court ruled that states cannot prevent gay couples from getting married. But the Colorado attorney general says the licenses are invalid because the court’s ruling was put on hold. The court’s decision upheld a lower-court ruling that struck down Utah’s gay marriage ban. It becomes law in the six states covered by the 10th Circuit: Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming. But the panel immediately put the ruling on hold pending an appeal. However, the Colorado Attorney General’s Office said the licenses will be invalid. A spokesperson for Republican Attorney General John Suthers says the state’s Constitutional ban on same sex marriage remains in effect. Suthers’ office said the 10th Circuit stay on its ruling means that the defeat of the ban on same sex marriage is not binding in Utah, much less Colorado. The attorney general does have the option to sue to stop Boulder County but no decision has been made.